剑拔弩张
剑拔弩张 (jiàn bá nǔ zhāng) literally means “swords drawn, crossbows loaded” and expresses “tense confrontation”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: jian ba nu zhang, jian ba nu zhang,剑拔弩张 meaning, 剑拔弩张 in english
Tense confrontation
Pronunciation: jiàn bá nǔ zhāng Literal meaning: Swords drawn, crossbows loaded
Origin & Usage
It began as art criticism. A Liang-dynasty appraisal of calligraphy described one master's brushwork as having swords drawn (剑拔) and crossbows spanned (弩张) — taut, armed, about to release. The metaphor was about energy held in tension on the page. It has migrated entirely into the description of situations, and now names the moment when both sides are prepared and nothing has happened yet. Diplomatic reporting is full of it.
Examples
English: "Tensions were high as both sides prepared for a confrontation."
Chinese: 双方都准备好迎接对抗，气氛紧张。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
口蜜腹剑
kǒu mì fù jiàn
Hide evil behind sweet words
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刻舟求剑
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
Using outdated methods foolishly
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虚张声势
xū zhāng shēng shì
Bluffing with fake display
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东张西望
dōng zhāng xī wàng
Glancing around in all directions; unable to settle
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拔苗助长
bá miáo zhù zhǎng
Ruin through impatient intervention
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出类拔萃
chū lèi bá cuì
Excellence that outshines all others
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一毛不拔
yī máo bù bá
Extremely stingy
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 剑拔弩张 mean in English?
剑拔弩张 (jiàn bá nǔ zhāng) literally translates to “Swords drawn, crossbows loaded” and is used to express “Tense confrontation”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 剑拔弩张 used?
Situation: Tensions were high as both sides prepared for a confrontation.
What is the pinyin for 剑拔弩张?
The pinyin pronunciation for 剑拔弩张 is “jiàn bá nǔ zhāng”.